One Last Time
Chapter 15: Hold Me
By aznJEDI13
Disclaimer: Disney owns the Mighty Ducks. I own the plot and any original characters in this series.
Notes: This was written as pure fun. I hope that this does not offend anyone and if it does I did not by any means do it on purpose.
Sorry I didn't have time to fix the grammar and all that fun stuff!
Sorry there's three cuss words here and a few references to other stuff.
And by the way the italics now mean flashbacks.
There is only one chapter left!!! *Sniff* It's been so great!!!!
And, finally – Thank you everyone for reviewing last chapter. Without sounding obsessive, I hurried home to check reviews and then checked almost every hour just because I wanted to know your opinion of it!!!!
Vote for my story for the Best Romance at Fan Fiction awards here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MightyDucksMovies/.
Chapter 15: If you hold me, will everything be all right?
'…I might need you to hold me tonight,
I might need you to say it's alright,
I might need you to make the first stand,
Because tonight I'm finding it hard to be your man…'
Sheets were twisted and mangled, having been thrown in several different directions at several different times. Several articles of clothing lay plastered about the room and door was ajar having not been shut in their earlier haste.
She shivered.
Glancing to the side of the room, she watched as a chilly wind blew through the lone open window. The sunlight was just beginning to peak into the bedroom and beginning to bathe them in warmth and light. The white curtains blew in favor of the wind and allowed her to see each breeze that intruded upon their humble slumber.
Another cool breeze blew and she snuggled deeper in his embrace.
She could hear the ocean from their room and smell the saltwater if she concentrated hard enough. A herd of birds flew over calling loudly as a single car sped past their house. She considered this heaven.
Surely it couldn't get any better than this.
She looked up at him. His face was calm and placid for the first time. He was still that little boy from District 5 when he slept. His looks had changed and enhanced, but while he slept she still saw bits and pieces of the young boy who had captured her heart so long ago.
There was no gel in his hair; gone from all the times she had ran her fingers through it and disappeared from the pleasant slumber they had participated in. Blond stumble had begun to form on his rugged face as his chest continued to rise and fall each time he took a breath.
He was sleeping peacefully and she guessed it was the first time in months.
She had the sudden urge to jump his bones and kiss him senseless, but she resisted. He needed his sleep almost as importantly as she needed her medication. They had had a rough night.
Julie and Adam were still in the hospital…
Another breeze blew and she pulled the sheet tighter around her nude body. Sighing, she reached for her discarded bag, leaning over the side of the bed to find her much needed medication. She downed a few pills and gulped some water.
When she turned back to her counterpart, the most beautiful pair of cerulean blue eyes pierced her. He smirked, sending her heart to do flips, and her stomach to jump up and down.
"Morning beautiful." His voice was husky and quiet, matching the rugged look he displayed.
She smiled and went to lean on her elbow and holding her head with her hand, "Morning hotshot."
He laughed gently and turned to lie flat on his back. He looked up at her and his smile brightened, "You don't know how much I missed you." He paused briefly absently running his finger up her arm, "Missed this."
Using her hand, she began to trace random patterns over his bare chest, "I know." Leaning forward, caressed her lips against his own, "I missed this too. I missed you."
Her finger continued to tease his skin and began to send shivers down his spine. He reached out and ran a finger down her face and then her neck, collarbone, shoulder, and finally her arm. "Do you think it'll work this time?"
She laughed, "Well, if you didn't think it was going to work, we should've discussed it before we…" Her voice trailed off, unable to finish the embarrassing sentence.
"Screwed, got naked…" He laughed.
"You're so imprudent," She teased him with her eyes.
He smiled, reaching to run his hand down the small of her back, "I know," He laughed, "Two can play at that game though. I don't see you being so prude."
She laughed, "Shut up," closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, "If we try hard, it can work. We're so busy, you with your hockey career and me, I'm teaching…" She her voice trailed off, "We can't give up, baby, we can't."
He nodded, "I don't want to hurt you."
Her hand continued, "I couldn't stand myself if I hurt you again." She sighed, "I've been in love with you, Guy Germaine, since District 5."
"I know." He smiled, "I love you."
"I love you too."
She took his hand and placed it on her breastbone, "You are my heart, Guy, without you I can't breathe, I can't live."
He smiled, taking her hand and kissing the inside wrist and then each fingertip, "And you are mine." He paused, "Without you, I have no reason to live."
She moved to snuggle against him, draping her left arm across his torso, "I'm so sorry baby."
Closed his eyes and then opened them, "I forgive you."
She smiled and snuggled closer; "I don't know what caused me to do it." She paused briefly, "He was just there and when he said he loved me since high school, I couldn't resist. I fell for his façade."
"When Katie died," He looked down at her moving to see her face, "I forgot how to live, how to breathe, how to love." He shook his head and placed his hand on the side of her head, moving away strands of brunette hair, "I don't deserve you, Cons."
She shook her head; "We don't deserve each other."
His eyes narrowed, "What made you cut your self?"
Looking away, "I watched you succumb to alcohol and the pain of Katie's death was too much. I had to do something that would take away the pain." She looked up, finally making eye contact, "So I started cutting my wrists and before I knew it I was cutting anywhere that didn't have a scar." She paused, "Then you became so distant, there was nothing left for me to live for, so I o. d."
He kissed the top of her head, "I'm sorry."
She shook her head, "Don't be sorry, it wasn't your fault. I was too foolish to help myself, I could've helped myself – I should've helped myself." She paused, "What about you? Why did alcohol seem so satisfying?"
He shrugged, "I don't know. It had just always been there and I figured it wouldn't go away like everything else. I was so scared of losing you that I rejected you."
"You've changed a lot." She mused. Turning face to face to him and caressing some of his blond hair with her hand, "So much."
"You better now?" He questioned.
She leaned forward and gently touched her lips with his, "Better now that you're here."
He smiled and pulled her forward to press his lips against hers. The kiss started out tenderly, but increased as their love, their desire grew. It was a kiss not meant to meet their needs, but to satisfy their desires.
"Mm…" She sighed, "Guy…"
He pulled away, "Yeah?"
"I love you."
He smiled, "I love you too."
They kissed again, melting against each other. Their passion growing and deepening every time their lips met. She pulled herself against him and he smiled against her lips.
The phone rang.
"Connie…" He mumbled and pulled away. She snuggled against him and leaned forward to kiss the nape of his neck and then moved to plant small kissed on his chest.
"Yeah, this is Germaine. Yeah, okay, yeah Connie's with me…what…yeah we'll be down there in a bit."
She pulled away, concern weaving its way onto her placid and beautiful face. Her eyes bore into his and saw that the passion and desire had drained and all that was left was fear, "What is it?"
"Adam had a brain aneurysm. They don't know how much longer he has."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Connie had sent him on grunge detail; she was worried he had gone off and done something crazy.
He had never been in a bar before and from the looks of it, he knew why. It was dark in some corners of the room and other corners, the counters that held lone drunkards were lit as the bartender continued to poor more and more glasses out.
Some people stared at him as if they had never seen someone in a wheelchair. Others gawked as if handicapped people were stupid and useless and still some snickered as if being in a wheelchair was some unfortunate thing.
He wished then with all his might that they could have his circumstances.
He wheeled through the masses of people that gathered in front of the TV or settled for dirty dancing when he falling saw that familiar head of wavy blond hair.
"Bartender, another drink." The man barked and the bartender complied. He watched as the man gulped the drink and then let out an exasperated sigh. "Another one."
He approached him; not quite sure what he was suppose to say, but he knew it was something.
"Guy. He pushed his thin-framed glasses off his nose and back against his eyes.
Guy looked down, "What do you want Averman?"
"Connie's looking for you." He simply stated.
Guy turned away, "I don't give a crap."
He shook his head, "You don't mean that, Guy, you love her."
"Love is just a freakin feeling." He paused, "Eventually, it goes away, like everything else."
"What?" He asked exasperated, "You don't mean that Guy?"
His nostrils flared, "Sure I do." He paused, "You think, Averman, that feelings last forever? Why do you think Bombay bailed on us? Why do you think Portman hit you? Why do you think I'm here?" He sighed, "Feelings are bull. Emotions are bull. Life is bull."
"Connie loves you." He began, "She sent me to find you."
He shook his head; "She only did out of obligation."
His brows creased in confusion, "No she didn't. She's worried sick over you." He shook his head, "She can't sleep. She won't eat. She's cutting herself. She's miserable."
He shook his head and covered his ears, "No!" He cried, "No, you're lying!"
He reached for Guy's hand only to have it pulled away, "I wish wasn't."
"That's impossible!" He screamed, "She doesn't love me. She can't."
"Why can't she?" He questioned.
"Look at me Averman!" He paused, "I'm a worthless, good for nothing, piece of trash."
"Guy, you're drunk."
He shook his head, "No, no, you don't understand." He began to shake his head furiously; "I failed. I failed."
"Katie's death isn't you fault."
"She was in my arms, Averman!" He cried, "I should've done something. I should've been able to save her. But I couldn't!" He cried harder, "I couldn't save her when her life depended on me!" He paused, his eyes growing dark and his voice becoming reserved and calm, "Connie can't love a failure."
"You're not a failure." His eyes bore into his, "It was Katie's time to go."
"She was my daughter!" He screamed, "Don't tell me that."
"Calm down, Guy, you're drunk."
He shook his head, "No, no." His eyes narrowed in anger, "Leave me alone Averman."
"But Guy-"
"Leave me now, Averman." He paused, "I don't need some freakin' cripple telling me what I'm suppose to do. You're nothing Averman!"
Knowing Guy was drunk he ignored him. It was difficult, the words stung so much. He turned to leave and then turned back to Guy, "No, I'm not leaving, Guy, unless you are with me." He paused, "You need help Guy."
He shook his head and reach out, slamming his fist into Averman's face. Averman's glasses fell the floor and Guy looked on stunned.
"Guy?" He asked surprised and dazed.
He watched as the blur, he assumed was Guy, shook his head and walked out.
After finding his glasses, he followed, "Guy!" He screamed. The man turned around. Averman shook his head, "Don't speak." He paused, "You're hurting, Guy, and the only way the pain is going to go away is to seek solace from the ones you love." He closed his eyes, "Please, Guy go to her, she needs you."
"I don't give a damn."
He began to walk away, but Averman wheeled after him. Grabbing onto his leg and turning him around, "Guy, Connie lost her daughter too. Katie was hers too. Don't you care the least bit that your wife is in pain? That your wife is hurting?"
He closed his eyes and then opened them again, swaying in drunkenness, "Take me to her, Les."
"Les!" Connie screamed. Running toward the handicap man and capturing him in a hug.
He smiled and pushed his glasses up against his nose once more, "Connie." He squeezed her tighter, "Connie." He breathed.
When she pulled away, she smiled, "How are you feeling Les?"
He shook his head, "Why do you ask the question when you already know the answer."
She smiled, quickly making eye contact with Guy who was talking with Greg and Russ and smiled back at her. She turned back to Averman and hoped he didn't notice. "That's good to hear, Les."
He nodded, "How's Guy?"
Her smile faded, "You don't know?"
"Know what?" His brows creased, "What happened Connie?"
"We've been separate for three years." She sighed, "Everything was too much."
He shook his head, "I know that." He paused, "I mean now."
She looked stunned, "You know?"
He shook his head; "It's not that hard to figure out."
"Don't tell anyone, Les." She sighed, "We were gonna tell everyone together. After, maybe…"
He smiled slightly, "Haven't your secrets been safe with me?"
She laughed, "Les…"
He nodded, "Okay, I'll admit in high school I wasn't the most discreet person."
"You posted pictures on the school website of me and Guy making out." She paused, laughing, "And Orion was so pissed cause he hadn't known we got back together."
He looked away, "Okay, maybe not very secret."
She reached out and placed her hand lightly on his arm, "Thank you, Les, for everything." She paused, "You brought him back to me the first time."
"I would do anything." He smiled, "For you and Guy."
"I know." She looked back at the guys and then walked away. He looked back at the guys and watched as another guy approached him.
His blond hair danced in the light and he tucked his hands into his pockets. "Hey." He glanced down at him.
Les looked up and smiled, "Hey, Guy."
"Look Les," He looked down and tucked his hands deeper into his pockets, "I'm sorry about back then. I said some pretty cruel things." He paused, "I shouldn't have hit you either. I should've listened to you." He smiled charmingly, "You were right."
He nodded, "That's the past, Guy, its over. I'm over it."
He closed his eyes, "How'd you get them to release you?" He brought his hands out of his pockets and began to push Lester.
Les looked on; "I told them it was a family emergency."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Through the back of the building, pass steel bars and electric doors, sat a man.
His body was comfortably sitting on a somewhat wooden bed and he held his hand in his hands. His dark brown hair showed slightly through his bronze skin-colored fingers.
His orange jump suit held splotches of dirt from working on the highway and it smelled slightly from not being changed in a while.
He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but for some reason he kept dreaming.
"Connie?" He questioned in surprised.
"Luis?" She asked in return, "You're the junkie? You're big Joe?"
He shook his head; "Guy's not home?"
She shook her head, "He's never home." She paused angrily, "Just give me the stuff, Luis."
"Connie!" Called a voice from upstairs.
Luis eyes narrowed, "That sounded like Charlie." He observed and then looked at Connie with confusion, "Charlie's upstairs, in your bed, huh?"
She shook her head, aggravated, "Just give me the stuff before he comes down, Luis."
"You're cheating on Germaine." He laughed, "This is good. He wasn't good enough was he? He didn't have the right stuff."
"Shut up, Luis," She retorted bitterly, "He's not home enough for me to cheat on." Her eyes narrowed, "Give it to me Luis."
He blinked, "I can't believe you, you're suppose to have love this guy since you were eight!"
"Connie, are you okay?" He called from upstairs.
"I'm fine!" She yelled back. She turned back to Luis, "I don't need a lecture, Luis, just give me the methane."
"Connie-"
She glanced at him angrily and he cowered, "I don't want to hear it, Luis. My life sucks, all right. I'm making mistakes, I need the speed."
He sighed, "You'll be sorry, Cons."
She shook her head, "You're the dealer, you're the one that's going to be sorry."
He reached out and grabbed her hand as she turned to leave, "Don't take too much." He warned.
She laughed, "I'll take as much as I need."
He turned away and heard the door close, "That's what I thought."
He then paused and heard Charlie and Connie upstairs, "Who was that?" Charlie asked.
"No one important. Salesman." She concluded, pausing, "Love me Charlie." He heard nothing more and he sighed, turning to walk to his car.
He got into the drivers seat and took one last look at the house, "Goodbye, Connie."
"Hey Mendoza! Mendoza!"
He looked up, "Me?" he questioned.
"Yeah, you!" He screamed, "Get your head out from under your ass. You've got a visitor." The ward paused and opened the gate, "Let's go." He held out his hands and watched as the guard placed silver cuffs over them, "We're ready, move it Mendoza."
And the guard followed his led.
They brought him to a room and pushed him to take a seat. He looked at the man in front of him and picked up the phone angrily, "Holy crap, Conway, what the hell do you want?"
"Luis." He paused, "We need to talk."
"This is a first." He replied bitterly, "You never seemed interested in me before." He shook his head, "What happened, Connie kick you out?"
He looked at him astonished, "You knew?"
Bitter laughter filled the conversation, "I was there." He sighed, "I wish I'd been out to tell Guy."
"Yeah, well." Charlie's eyes narrowed, "You got hung up."
He shook his head, "Yeah, yeah, Conway. Only cause you hung me up." He paused, "Do the others know you sold out your own teammate?"
"You were selling her drugs!" He screamed.
He shook his head; "You were giving her more than I gave her."
"Shut up, Mendoza, you have no right to say what you say."
"You sold me out, Conway," he paused, "And I'm suppose to give you warm welcomes and joyful greetings. That is bull."
He shook his head, "Grow up, Mendoza. Be a man." He sighed, "Take responsibility for your mistakes."
"Looks who's talking." He shouted at him, "Guy probably doesn't talk to you and the rest of the team doesn't know." He sighed, "Don't be a pathological hypocrite."
He nodded, "You're right, I made mistakes. But I'm amending them."
"Is that why you're here?" he questioned, "Trying to make amends for throwing me in the slammer for twenty-five years without parole. Is that what you're doing here?"
He shook his head, "You got yourself in the slammer, junkie, I just pushed you there." Luis looked away and called for the guard. "No, wait!" Charlie called, "That's not why I came." Charlie ran a hand through his hair; "It's about Adam, Luis."
The man on the other side of the glass sunk back into his chair, "What happened?"
"His cancer's back. They didn't detect a blot clot. He had a brain aneurysm and he's going to die." He looked at Luis, who was paled in shock and fear, "Saying something Mendoza?" He shook his head, "Anyway, Luis, I thought you should know. It was the honorable thing to do."
He nodded, "Thanks, Charlie." He looked on, "How is everyone else?"
Charlie shrugged, "Who knows?" He paused and shrugged, "We're all so good at hiding things, you know."
He nodded again, still paralyzed in shock, "I know." His eyes narrowed at his counterpart, "How are you?"
Charlie's eyes began to water, "He was suppose to be my best friend. But we kept so much from each other, I feel as if I betrayed him somehow. I feel guilty." He looked away, "They wouldn't even let me see him."
"It hurts doesn't it?" He questioned.
Charlie nodded whispering, "More than I ever thought it would."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Beep, beep, beep…
She hadn't slept at all last night. The doctors had refused to allow her to see Adam, but still she couldn't sleep. She had tossed and turned in bed, what if he died while she was sleeping?
Finally, the doctors gave her permission to see him and the nurse wheeled her in. The doctors had informed her that he had lost all feeling in his body. He had lost all sight and feeling. He was only slightly conscious as he began to fade away quickly.
They were afraid he would never wake up, but somehow he did.
He couldn't talk much, but he could hear.
The nurse wheeled her in, by his bedside and she took hold of his hand. It was a horrible sight to see the man she loved with all her heart laying helpless in the bed before her. His head was slightly swollen and all the hair had been shaved off. There was one point where she could see the incision that had been sewed up after it had been open to save him.
He didn't look like Adam, though she knew it was.
A single sound accompanied the breathing machine, which continued to inhale and exhale.
Beep, beep, beep...
Those beeps continued to warm her ears, she had never heard a more comforting and frightening sound at the same time before.
Beep, beep, beep…
"Adam." She called, "Oh dear, Adam." She paused and reached to wipe the tears from her eyes, "I love you."
He stirred slightly and she gripped his hand tighter. His eyes slowly opened to face her, "Jules…" His breathing was ragged, short, and shallow. It took all his strength for him to talk. "Jules…"
She squeezed his hand, forgetting that he couldn't feel it, "I'm here, Adam, I'm here."
His eyes closed. After a long period, they opened again, "How's…" he took a few deep breathes, "Josh?" His voice was ragged and hushed. No longer confident or loud, but a whisper. He inhaled again, longer than before and continued to wheeze.
Julie look at him, "Um, the doctor said he's going to be fine. Just needs a few weeks in the hospital." She watched as he closed his eyes again, "Adam, Adam don't leave me." She cried, "Please Adam."
He took a very deep breath, "I…love…you…"
Julie's grip on his hand tightened, "Adam, don't say that, don't…"
Beep, beep, beep…
His rhythmic breathing because inconsistent and incoherent. She closed her eyes as the tears began to fall, full force.
His eyes opened again, though he could see nothing, "Hold me…" His ragged breathing continued, "One…" inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, "last…time."
Julie looked at him, wiping her eyes and smiled. Using her hand, she caressed some of his brunette hair on the top of his head before she kissed his forehead. She leaned forward and put her arms around him as best as she could. "Gladly," She whispered and closed her eyes.
His eyes closed.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beeeeeeep.
Suddenly, the very short beeps became one, single, long, and monotone beep.
And she wept.
To be continued…
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please CONTINUE to REVIEW – I beg you!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter, it really encouraged me.
